Could it really be true? Has Corey actually gotten around to updated his blog again? Yes my friends, it’s true. I, Corey Baker have come back from the grave of blogging despair. I apparently was in some sort of blog hibernation for the past couple of months and for that, I apologize. But………like it or not, the withexpectancy blog is back in action in 2012.

I had leftovers for lunch today. I know what you are thinking. ”Corey, I don’t care what you had to eat today.” I don’t blame you for that mindset. Nevertheless, for the sake of the blog, I had leftovers today. Now normally, I don’t particularly care for leftovers. For some reason, meals always seem to taste better the first time around. I’m not quite sure what happens in the fridgeration process that makes leftovers taste not as good as the first. Obviously, freshness is a major key. The strange thing about me is that there are a few meals that I actually enjoy more the second time around than the first. Today was one of those occasions. Julie made my favorite meal last night which is this ridiculously awesome chicken casserole with mashed potatoes and green beans. Seriously folks, this meal is legit. I could eat it four nights a week no joke.

Confused yet? Wondering where I am going with all of this? Possibly thinking to yourself, “maybe he should have waited another week before he started blogging again?” Don’t worry, this leftover rambling has a point. I started to think today about why we eat leftovers. There are obvious reasons. First of all, we don’t want to waste the food. Secondly, leftovers are a great convenience. After all, it’s much easier to reheat already cooked food than it is to make a new meal from scratch. Leftovers also have money saving potential if you take them to work instead of going out to eat. The leftovers are probably healthier than the restaurant food we were going to have for lunch anyway!

Growing up, leftovers always held a special place in my heart. I remember as a first year Master’s Commission student, I would find myself at friends houses after they had just gotten finished with some sort of a small group Bible study. Those small group studies ALWAYS had food and they ALWAYS had leftovers. Enter Corey. I realized those leftovers were not originally intended to be consumed by me. I also knew that I was hungry and leftover nacho’s seemed like a much better option to me than what I had to eat at my house. Leftover food obviously is the food that people don’t want to eat usually because they are too full. Sometimes I wonder if the most important things in my life feel like they are “leftovers.”

I’m sure Jesus loves spending any time with me that I can give Him, even if it is my leftovers. I’m sure my wife or girls appreciate times when dad is home, even if it is my leftovers. They are not the issue. I am. The issue is not are they willing to accept them. The issue is, am I willing to give them? I recognize that there are seasons of business. There are moments when your kids will be grateful for any time, even it is leftover time. There are seasons when God understands that all I have to give is leftover time. He is just grateful for the time. I don’t want to eat leftovers for every meal. They are ok to have every once in awhile. I also don’t want to give God my leftovers every day. I don’t want to give my family leftovers as a normal rule. I like fresh food. My God and my family like a fresh me. As this new year roles around, make sure you make giving those most important to you your “leftovers” the exception and not the rule.

With Expectancy!
Corey

corey@firstassemblywest.com

About
With Expectancy is a blog written by Corey Baker, Lead Pastor of First Assembly West in Cape Coral, Florida.